QUINTE WEST — Spelmer Chrysler Jeep announced Thursday it has pledged to raise $27,000 to fund a new transport defibrillator for the emergency department at Trenton Memorial Hospital (TMH). The hospital’s emergency department treats nearly 35,000 patients per year (up to 100 per day) — more than six per cent are cardiac patients. Transport monitor defibrillators are used every day, sometimes five to six times a day to revive a patient and save their life. “Spelmer will be matching customer donations, doing staff payroll deductions, barbecues, round-up in the service area and more to ensure they hit their goal,” said owner Jason Spelmer. TD Insurance was on hand at Thursday’s announcement providing a donation to kick-start the campaign. “Doing the math, we can help save 2,200 lives with this equipment,” added Splemer. Immediate use of an AED, when a patient collapses, can increase their survival rate as high as 50 to 70 per cent. AED – Defibrillators provide a shock to the heart to restore it to normal rhythm. Every seven minutes in Canada someone dies from heart disease or stroke. Twenty-nine per cent of all deaths in Canada are from heart disease. Cardiac arrest can also occur from respiratory arrest, electrocution, drowning, choking and other trauma. With more than 8,000 children under the age of 18 years, they too can suffer a cardiac arrest as a result of a respiratory illness. Every hour, about 12 adults, age 20 and over, will die from heart disease. Nine in 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke. Hastings County has 33 per cent higher hospitalization for heart attacks. The top five diagnoses treated at the Trenton Memorial Hospital emergency department include heart attacks, congestive heart failure, stroke, pneumonia and COPD.